Get to know… Michael Jakobsen

After Danish centre-back, Michael Jakobsen, became the latest addition to the Adelaide United squad, here are some interesting facts about his career to date.

The 32-year-old has spent the last two seasons plying his trade in the Hyundai A-League with Melbourne City and bolsters the Reds’ defensive stocks.

Jakobsen began his footballing journey at Boldklubben af 1893 in the Danish second division, before earning a move to the academy of Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 2003.

He would make his debut a year later, under coach Guus Hiddink, but returned to his native homeland and joined Superliga outfit Aalborg BK midway during the 2004/05 campaign.

Jakobsen would be a mainstay with the club going on to amass more than 150 appearances, scoring 17 goals and featured in the then UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League over a five year period.

His first time in the UEFA Cup in 2007 saw him compete against the likes of Sampdoria, Anderlecht, Tottenham Hotspur, and Getafe. Jakobsen later claimed his first piece of silverware, playing an important role in clinching the 2007-08 Superliga title.

In 2008, Aalborg qualified for the Champions League Group Stage and pitted with Manchester United, Celtic and Villarreal. The Dane played in five of those matches and incidentally scored in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.

AaB finished a respectable third and qualified for the UEFA Cup knockout stages where Jakobsen would face Deportivo La Coruna and Manchester City.

His solid form earned him a call-up to the Denmark National Team and received the first of five international caps against Malta in March 2009.

In July 2010, Jakobsen embarked on a new adventure and signed on loan with La Liga side Almeria. The central defender would go on to accumulate 16 appearances in the top flight, which consisted of matches against Sevilla, Real Madrid, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad.

The Spanish club was relegated at the end of the 2010/11 season but Jakobsen stayed for another year after the Rojiblancos chose to sign him permanently.

He returned home and penned a deal with FC Copenhagen in 2012 but his stay was short-lived and loaned to fellow Danish club FC Nordsjælland, before signing with Esbjerg fB at the beginning of 2014.

Jakobsen went on to collect over 50 games before experiencing another loan spell this time with Norwegian team Lillestrøm SK.

Ahead of the 2016/17 season, Jakobsen arrived in Australia– joining Melbourne City for the next two years and won the Westfield FFA Cup in 2016.